What do you use your bike for?
Transportation. And fun. I commute 20 miles round trip almost every day. Although it was a rough winter, so I didn’t ride in every day this winter.

When did you start riding for transportation?
Probably 5 years ago. Coming here, seeing a lot of cats doing it, I said, I want to do that.

What’s your favorite thing about riding a bike?
I love the exercise and all that. But number one is being outside. Being in fresh air.

Any advice for someone just starting out?
Make sure you get fitted to your bike. A lot of shops don’t do that, and people give up because they get uncomfortable.

What kind of bike are you riding?
It’s a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I got it at Peoples Bicycle almost a year ago. I got it to travel cross country. This summer I’m looking at riding up to the Adirondacks, testing things out, carrying all my stuff. And maybe south to the Delaware Water Gap. Then next summer across the country.

Anything else?
I fixed a flat today in under five minutes, a first. Did not even slow me down. Today’s a great day!

Lights, racks, and fenders are key for a transportation bike. Brian did not like his old fenders and was on the way to check out some new ones when Wigwam flagged him down.

Brian uses panniers for shopping and bringing stuff to work. Baskets, buckets, saddle bags, and old crates work well, too.

If you are traveling more than a mile or two from home, carry a pump and a spare inner tube.